A little history on the my name, SugarBonen..... Not only is Bonen my last name, it is a delicious candy given on happy occasions!! History of the candy, Sugarbonen:
"Sugarbonen" are given to friends and relatives in celebration of a happy occasion such as the birth of a child- "kindjessuiker"(baby sugar) or "bruidssuiker"(bride's sugar), which are passed out to wedding guests. made from the fine
st Belgium chocolates, which my country is known for throughout the world, sugarbonen are shaped like flat almonds and are covered with a hard confectionary sugar coating. This coating can come in a number of colors, to suit any special occasion. Sugarbonen are normally given out in the form of favors which traditionally are enclosed in individual, white, coned-shaped boxes. As the years have passed, people have become more creative. Favors can run the gamut from specially designed boxes to crystal vases to stuffed animals with a small bag of sugarbonen attached. This long standing tradition has been traced back as far as the 14thcentury when sugarbonen were made from almonds and dried fruits. During the 16th and 17th centuries, sugarbonen were made exclusively for royalty, and the nobility, as sugar was a delicacy and extremely expensive. Historians have written about sugarbonen during the time when King Louis XIV ruled the country of France. Known for his lengthy feasts and festivities. Sugarbonen were also chronicled at such events as the christening of Louis, Duke of Orleans and the birth of Marie of Burgundy (Maria van Boergondie). It wasn't until sugar cane was discovered and cultivated that the sugarbonen became available to the general public and it was only after the French Revolution that my ancestors adopted this tradition. With the infusion of Italian families moving to Belgium, the popularity of giving sugarbonen (confetti in Italian) expanded to include weddings. "Bruidssuiker"(bride's sugar), given to all invited guests, is considered as a sign of fertility. This symbol of sharing happy moments has broadened over the years to include First Communion, Conformation, Graduations, and Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day Holidays and Birthdays. (Taken from Emmy's Belgium Candy Site)
